Wire clip for u-post



W 3 w 2 a w m T 10 .1 04 F U: E WW 0 6 5mm [1 w w 2 mu. m mar v xm\\fi 44 6 1/? L 6 I 1 w h M Z 11 1 I m m MP A N H h INVENTOR WAYNE B. WEED,

ATTORN EYS.

United States Patent 3,246,830 WIRE CLIP FOR U-POST Wayne B. Weed,Independence, Mo., assignor to Armco Steel Corporation, Middletown,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 246,825 1Claim. (Cl. 256-57) This invention relates to the erection of fencestructures, and more particularly to a wire clip adapted to secure thefence wire to a U-shaped post.

In a co-pending application in the name of Wayne Weed, Serial No.249,819, filedJanuary 7, 1963, now Patent No. 3,169,750 there is taughtthe construction for a fence clip which can be utilized with virtuallyany steel fence post. As noted in that application, there are a numberof rather general problems, and of course, it is an object of thisapplication to overcome them. In the first place, it is an object ofthis invention to provide a wire clip which will not become entangledwith other clips when stored in bulk. And secondly, it is a veryimportant object of this invention to provide a wire clip which whileconstructed of relatively stiff wire, may be easily deformed into apermanent clamping position.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a wireclip of the character described, and which will accomplish the abovenoted objects, but which may be manufactured with a substantial savingin material.

These various objects are accomplished by the unique configuration ofthe present wire clip. In the accompanying drawings, there is shown anexemplary embodiment of the clip of this invention and its usage. Theseveral views of the drawing may be described as follows:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the wire clip of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the clip of this invention engaged through aU-shaped fence post;

FIGURE 3 is a top view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the wire cliptemporarily placed over a fence wire;

FIGURE 4 is a top view also similar to FIG. 2, but showing the clip ofthis invention as deformed to its permanent clamping position; and

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the wire clip of the inventionin position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, this invention isparticularly adapted for use with a U-shaped post such as indicated at10. A post of this type is provided with a pair of outwardly extendingfront flanges 11 and 12, and a U-shaped channel 13 having a plurality ofspaced apart holes 14. It will also be noted that the front flanges 11and 12 may be provided with a plurality of spaced apart lugs (not shown)to assist in holding the fence wire, but by utilizing the constructionof this invention, such lugs are not necessary.

Turning now to FIG. 1, the wire clip of this invention is shown inperspective. It is apparent that this clip may be formed from a shortlength of relatively stiff wire by any conventional and ordinary machineoperation. At one end, the wire clip is provided with a hook 15, adaptedto be passed through a hole 14 in the U-shaped fence post, and engagedover a fence wire 21 strung across the front flanges 11 and 12. Adjacentthe hook 15 is a straight shank portion 16- and an offset portion 16a,of a length sufficient to reach from the fence wire 21 to the hole 14 inthe back of the U-post and back to the wire 21. It will be apparent thatthe length of the straight shank portion and offset portion is less thanthe distance of coplanar clamp elements 18 and 19, joined by a loop 20.The clamp member 17 is disposed at substantially right angles to boththe plane defined by the hook 15 and the shank 16, and to the straightshank 16 itself.

FIGS. 2 through 4 show the step-by-step procedure for employing the wireclip of this invention. The U- post 10 is located in an appropriateposition and a fence wire 21 is placed across the front flanges 11 and12. The hook 15 of the wire clip is then inserted through one of theholes 14 in the post channel to engage the wire. Then, by grasping theclamp member 17, either with the hand or with a pair of pliers, theshank 16 is bent around the side of the post 10, and the clamp member 17is placed over the fence wire 21. In this position, it will be seen thatthe loop 20 of the U-shaped clamp member is a short distance below thefence wire 21. To permanently clamp the wire clip in position, asuitable tool may be inserted through the U-shaped clamp member from thefront, and using the wire 21 as a fulcrum, the clamp member 17 may bebent under and back of the fence wire to the position shown in FIG. 4.

As seen in FIGURES 1, 3, and 4, the straight shank portion 16 has anoffset portion 16a which lies at a substantial angle from the straightshank itself. This construction provides resiliency to the wire clip ofthis in vention, both to insure tight engagement between the fence wireand the U-post, and to permit its use with wires of varying sizes.

The fence post clip of the co-pending application referred to earlier,(along with most other conventional clips), extends all the way aroundthe fence post. It will therefore be apparent that the clip of thisinvention, in that it extends through the center of the fence post, willrequire somewhat less material.

Furthermore, by virtue of the configuration of the clamp member 17,there is no sharp projection when the wire clip is permanently fastenedin place. As noted before, the clamp elements 18 and 19 are co-planar.In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the element 19 will beshorter than the element 18 by at least the thickness of the fence wire21. Therefore, when the wire clip is clamped into position, the element19 will be tucked behind the fence wire 21 and out of the way.

Modification may be made without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. While it has been described in terms of a singleexemplary embodiment, no limitations are intended except insofar as setforth in the following claim.

What is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by LettersPatent is:

A wire clip adapted to secure a fence wire to a U- shaped fence posthaving a pair of front wire supporting flanges and a rearwardlyextending channel provided with a plurality of holes, said clip beingformed from a single piece of wire and including .a hook on one endthereof; a clamp member on the other end thereof, said clamp membercomprising a pair of co-planar elements joined by a loop, one of saidelements being shorter than the other by at least the thickness of saidfence wire, said co-planar elements of said clamp member each beingsubstantially perpendicular to said straight shank portion; a straightshank portion in the same plane as said hook; a relatively shorteroffset portion angularly related and secured to said straight shankportion; said straight shank portion and offset portion together joiningsaid hook and said clamp member and being of a length less than thedistance around said post from one of said flanges to the oppositeflange and of a length suflicient to be deformed about a portion of saidchannel, whereby said clamp member is engageable over said fence wireadjacent the edge of one of said flanges and said hook is engageableover said fence wire intermediate said flanges,

2 2-2 4 and whereby the angular relationship of said straight 1,971,0478/1934 Moritz 25657 shank and said offset portion imparts resilience tosaid 2,227,553 1/1941 Paque 256-57 X clip for the maintenance of tightengagement between said 2,662,740 12/ 1953 White 256-48 We and send 5FOREIGN PATENTS References by the Examiner Great Britain.

UNITED STATES PATENTS D 735,121 8/1903 Lombard 256 57 REINALDO P.MACHADO, Przmary Examine-r. 977,189 11/ 1910 Henning 256-57 CHARLES W.ROBINSON, HARRISON R. MOSELEY, 1,450,298 4/1923 Mason 25657 X 10Examiners.

